Licensing Services
Licence for a House in Multiple Occupancy
To have multiple occupants in a house in Scotland, you need a licence from South Ayrshire Council.
If you rent a house to multiple occupants in Scotland you will need a licence from
South Ayrshire Council if the property has three or more unrelated occupants and
it is their main residence.
This applies whether or not the landlord lives at the property.
You can only give permission for a house to be used under multiple occupancy if:
- you are the owner of the house
- you knowingly give permission for it to be occupied
- the house is a house in multiple occupation
You must be a fit and proper person to hold a licence and not be disqualified from
holding a licence.
If the licence is for an activity that is being managed for or carried on for a
person who would not be granted a licence the licence will be refused.
The premises must be suitable. The following will be taken into consideration when
deciding if the premises are suitable:
- the location, character and condition of the premises
- the type of proposed activity/occupation
- the kinds of people who will live in the premises
- the possibility of public nuisance
- public order and safety
How to apply
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
What happens next?
Before considering an application South Ayrshire Council must have received all
the required supporting documentation before the application is considered lodged.
Except in the case of a house that is to be used as a women's refuge the applicant
must put up a notice near the premises for 21 days beginning with the date of the
application. This must state that an application has been made, details of the application,
eg the applicant's name and address, that objections and representations can be
made and how they can be made. Once the notice has been up for 21 days the applicant
must submit a certificate of compliance to South Ayrshire Council. South Ayrshire
Council will need the certificate before they can make a final decision on the application.
South Ayrshire Council will give the public notice of the application in local newspapers.
The notice will state how representations can be made.
South Ayrshire Council will send a copy of the application to the local chief constable
and to the appropriate relevant authority (or where applicable the enforcing authority
under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005).
The enforcing or relevant authority may be the Health & Safety Executive, the
fire service or South Ayrshire Council.
If the application is for a property that will be used as a women's refuge South
Ayrshire Council will give notice in writing to people who reside in the vicinity
of the premises.
We would expect to process your application within 1 year. If South Ayrshire Council
fails to make a decision within 1 year the application will be deemed successful.
What if I have been refused approval?
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
If you wish to make representations about an application you must do so in writing
to South Ayrshire Council within 28 days of either, the application, the date the
application was advertised or any other date given, whichever is later.
If you wish to appeal against a decision you may do so to the local sheriff within
28 days of the decision. The sheriff can only uphold an appeal if they consider
that the South Ayrshire Council:
- erred in law
- based their decision on an incorrect material fact
- acted contrary to natural justice
- exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner
Appeals against a sheriff's decision can be made to the Court of Session within
28 days of the decision.
Other complaints
If you wish to complain about a licence holder then please use the contact details
below.
Who to contact
HMO Licensing
South Ayrshire Council
Newton House
30 Green Street Lane
Ayr KA8 8BH
Tel: 01292 612995
Trade Associations